Bhubaneswar: Maintaining that the doctors at AIIMS, New Delhi is pressing to discharge Jaga and Balia (Kalia), the craniopagus twins who were separated on October 25, 2017 and since then undergoing treatment there, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday requested Union Health Minister JP Nadda to advise the AIIMS authorities to continue the treatment and care of the twins till they get fit enough for home care.
The craniopagus twins were separated on October 25, 2017 after a marathon surgery that lasted for over 11 hours at AIIMS, New Delhi. While Jaga is doing well, Kalia is still getting food through nasal and needs more medical attention.
In a letter to Nadda, Patnaik said, “It is learnt that the Department of Neurology, AIIMS is pressing to discharge the babies unilaterally against the views of the team of specialists from our State and despite the request of the State Government to continue their treatment at AIIMS, New Delhi. While we have adequate health infrastructure available in the State, the same may not be able to respond to the special medial needs and care that the twins demand.”
“Any capacity constraint in their treatment could prove counterproductive to all the serious and committed efforts made by AIIMs, New Delhi till now,” said the Chief Minister.
Maintaining that the State is fully committed to bear all medical and related expenditure for continuing treatment of the twins there, Patnaik requested Nadda to advise the concerned authorities at AIIMs to continue treatment and care of Jaga and Balia at the premier institute till the twins get fit enough for home care.
The 42-month-old twins were admitted in the AIIMS on July 14, last year. Before being admitted to AIIMS, they were treated at SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack. They belong to a tribal family of Milipada village under Phiringia block of Kandhamal district. The Chief Minister had provided Rs 1 crore for the treatment of the twins initially.
